Publish long-awaited report on obesity insists TD as two years pass by

Publish long-awaited report on obesity insists TD as two years pass by

Independent.ie

Local TD and Sinn Féin Health spokesperson Louise O'Reilly TD has called on the government to publish an annual report for 'A Healthy Weight for Ireland: Obesity Policy and Action Plan 2016 - 2025', which was two years old this month.

Local TD and Sinn Féin Health spokesperson Louise O'Reilly TD has called on the government to publish an annual report for 'A Healthy Weight for Ireland: Obesity Policy and Action Plan 2016 - 2025', which was two years old this month.

Deputy O'Reilly said: 'In September 2016, the government published an obesity plan for the State entitled 'A Healthy Weight for Ireland: Obesity Policy and Action Plan 2016 - 2025'.

'The action plan was a welcome one with the principles of trying to reverse obesity trends, to prevent health complications, and reduce the overall burden for individuals, families, the health system, and the wider society and economy.

'The plan was two years old this month; yet, despite the government saying it would report annually, we have not seen anything from the Department of Health in terms of the progress of implementing the plan, and in particular in relation to the implementation of 'Ten Steps Forward' which is the key section in preventing overweight and obesity.

'Without the provision of an annual report, we cannot benchmark the progress of the plan and how it is impacting on obesity in the State.'

Deputy O'Reilly concluded: 'We need to see ring-fenced funding to tackle obesity and we need to see, as a matter of urgency, an annual report into how 'A Healthy Weight for Ireland: Obesity Policy and Action Plan 2016 - 2025' is being progressed.'